In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔 Trivia

🌄 Bend, OR Weather

📰 Local News - What’s a Happening?

📰Mountain View HS vandalism photos released; some students barred from graduation 🎦

🛣️Freshly paved McKenzie Pass opening by July 4

🌲🔥 Fire Season Begins In ODF Central OR District

🍄Oregon’s Psilocybin Market Struggles to Attract Customers

🔥Central Oregon Fire Info

🚧 Road Closures

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

🔥Outbuilding Fire on Deschutes Market Rd: Bend Fire Department Responds

⛑️Hiker falls 40 feet at Benham Falls, rescued from Deschutes River

💥OSP Press Release: Fatal Crash- HWY 97 - Deschutes County

🚨⚖️ Crime News

⚖️ Bend Murder Suspect Brian Wynn Arraigned on Indictment; July 1 Plea Hearing Set

🫴 Local Cause of the Month

🧒 "Building Brighter Futures: The Inspiring Work of Kids Inspired Non-Profit"

😁 MEME of the Day

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

 🎈Rhubarb Festival - La Pine, OR

🎈Sister’s Folk Festival

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

Smith Rock State Park is not only known for its stunning rock formations and climbing routes but also for being part of a significant geological structure. What type of geological feature is Smith Rock a part of?

A) A fault line

B) A glacier valley

C) A caldera

D) A mountain range

👉 Find the Answer in Tomorrow’s Newsletter 👉

BEND

Terrebonne, OR

Mountain View HS vandalism photos released; some students barred from graduation

The Bend-La Pine School District released photos Friday of the vandalism at Mountain View High School that happened early Wednesday morning. It also announced the punishments for those involved in the vandalism.

"It's probably thousands of dollars' worth of damage. Several hours of work from teachers and staff. The cancelation of events we've been looking forward to since we got into high school. That's terrible," senior Theryon Taylor said.

The images show exterior doors blocked by a washing machine and a chest freezer that were filled with concrete. Hot dogs were tossed into a toilet and a classroom with several overturned desks and newspapers all over the floor. Bend-La Pine communications director Scott Maben also said garbage and food was thrown on the floor.

Central Oregon Daily caught up to a couple of seniors for their reaction to the photos. 

"That's crazy to me," senior Alberto Garcia said. When asked what he thinks of the prank, he responded "I think it's funny." 

"Such a monolithic amount of stupidity goes into any singular one of those things. Whether or not it was supposed to be as malicious as it turned out to be, it ruined the last day of high school for so many people," Taylor said. 

Maben said other damage included broken equipment in a math classroom, a damaged wall and nearly $1,000 worth of yearbooks were stolen.

Maben said concrete-filled appliances created a safety issue because they blocked an emergency exit.

As a result, the school canceled an end-of-year celebration assembly and a barbecue on Wednesday.

Maben said about 20 students were involved in the Wednesday morning vandalism. Those students will face the following discipline:

• A one-year trespass from all Bend-La Pine School District campuses, beginning on Sunday.

• A hand-written, sincere letter to future seniors who might be thinking about pranking or damaging the school, and why that is not a great idea based on your experiences this past week.

• Completing five hours of supervised, school-specific community service.

• A few students have lost their privilege to participate in Saturday's graduation ceremony due to the level of their involvement.

The district also released this statement from Principal Michael Hicks:

"In the past there have been senior pranks that are creative, memorable and harmless. What happened this week was malicious and insulting toward our building staff and student body. I cannot condone this sort of behavior toward our school. It’s important that these events not overshadow the accomplishments of this senior class. This is a week for gratitude, reflection and celebration with family and friends. We look forward to honoring our graduates on Saturday for this remarkable milestone.”

There was more vandalism Wednesday night or Thursday morning with exterior windows spray-painted with obscene messages, Maben added.

Bend Police said it is letting the district take the lead on the investigation but that police may get involved if it rises to the level of a criminal case.

Full Story/Video on Central Oregon Daily News Here

Freshly paved McKenzie Pass opening by July 4

BEND -- Construction crews are hard at work on the east side of McKenzie Pass and plan to have the highway above the gate paved and open by the morning of July 4. Earlier this week, crews began paving preparation work beyond the gate of this seasonally closed pass.

Only the east side of the pass is under construction, but the west side will also remain closed at the gate just beyond Linton Lake until July 4. Limited space for vehicles to turn around on the west side makes it unsafe to open any further towards the summit.

Once the freshly paved pass opens above the gate, there will still be some construction work happening. Tasks like striping, putting up signage and clean-up may cause minor delays.

Paving on the east side section of highway below the gate will continue through July and could also cause some delays. Unlike the upper highway, this section is wide enough to accommodate traffic and construction equipment with single lane closures and flaggers. 

After a long winter, we know everyone is anxious to head out. Remember that when this road is closed, it's closed to everyone. Entering the work zone is dangerous and can cause delays that may slow down the project timeline. Since crews will be working in a closed area, they may work any day of the week and heavy equipment will remain on the road until its open.

Funding from a Federal Lands Access Program grant is repaving OR 242 from the junction with U.S. 20 in Sisters to the summit at Dee Wright Observatory. Improvement grants like this are critical to low-traffic volume roads like McKenzie Pass. More information is available on our project website. 

There is always the possibility that extreme weather or other unforeseen circumstances could delay the opening past July 4.

Fire Season Begins In ODF Central OR District

Posted by Heather Roberts KBND

BEND, OR -- Oregon Department of Forestry declares the start of fire season Monday in its largest district. Ben Duda, with ODF's Central Oregon district, says the region's strong snowpack and late spring rain had an impact, "We’ve seen a slower start to fire season, honestly, this year.

But we’re also seeing a lot of fuel growth; and by fuel I mean grasses and brush." He tells KBND News, "It doesn’t delay the onset of fire season, but it kind of spreads out the season for us." Duda says the fire risk is much higher at lower elevations, and spreads to higher elevation areas as snow melts and vegetation dries out. 

"I anticipate a fairly active season," says Duda, "I think Northwest Prediction Center’s calling on an average season for us, at this point, which is still pretty significant for Oregon."

The Central Oregon district has already seen 16 fires this year. "People are thankfully feeling a lot of pressure to get some fuels treatments done around their homes and properties and unfortunately that’s led also to a few escaped debris burns, which continue to be our largest cause of human fires, particularly this time of year." In most cases people thought their burn piles were out, so they left it unattended.

Duda encourages people who burned even a week ago, to check on their debris piles, "If the ash is white, it hasn’t gotten any water on it. Or, the water that was put on it has dried back out and warmed back up. So, things need to be stirred with water and checked with your hands before you consider them dead-out."

In other cases, the fires started with activities people didn’t think would cause a spark, "Crack sealing their paved driveways and things like that, using propane torches, and some weed burning and metal grinding or cutting. Just even the grass is a lot taller this year, so parking vehicles on tall grass is going to start being an issue as things dry out."

Three districts in southern Oregon entered fire season last week. ODF’s Jessica Neujahr encourages recreators to check fire restrictions before heading out, "There might be potentially some burn bans, they might need a permit for burning, it might have some campfire restrictions or anything like that. And that will continue throughout the summer, until fire season ends."

In addition to fire restrictions, the start of fire season brings full staffing at look-outs and detection camera systems, as well as full-time prevention patrols. 

Lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and BLM elevated their fire danger to "Moderate" Friday.

Oregon’s Psilocybin Market Struggles to Attract Customers

A year into Oregon's experiment with the first regulated psilocybin mushroom market, the industry is facing challenges with low customer numbers. Advocates emphasize the need for greater awareness of the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin. Heidi Venture, founder of Vital Reset in Hood River, notes that many are unaware of the potential benefits of psilocybin trips.

At a recent industry conference in Portland, about 100 entrepreneurs and facilitators discussed the difficulties and successes of the past year. High costs and marketing restrictions are significant hurdles, with prices for sessions ranging from $800 to $2,500. Despite this, the Healing Advocacy Fund predicts the number of clients will increase to about 7,000 by the end of the year, though this is lower than initially expected.

The Oregon Health Authority is reviewing regulations and seeking public input to improve the legal framework. Entrepreneurs remain hopeful, believing that with time and better awareness, the market can thrive and significantly impact mental health treatment.

Link to: Northwest Large Fire Interactive Web Map

Bend

Weekly Road and Traffic Report for the Week of June 8th - 16th

Deschutes County

Weekly Road Construction Update Week of June 9th - 15th

Redmond

Weekly Road and Traffic Report for the Week of June 8th - 14th

ODOT - Region 4 Weekly Construction Update June 7th - 14th

Outbuilding Fire on Deschutes Market Rd: Bend Fire Department Responds

On June 10, 2024, the Bend Fire Department swiftly responded to a reported outbuilding fire on Deschutes Market Rd, just north of the city limits. The incident, which occurred at 9:12 in the morning, prompted concerned calls as the fire appeared to be spreading to nearby outbuildings and brush.

The outbuilding in question served as a residence for one adult occupant. Fortunately, no one was inside when the fire broke out, as the occupant was at work. Upon hearing about the fire, the occupant rushed back home. Meanwhile, occupants from the main residence took action, using garden hoses to contain the spread until fire crews arrived.

The cause of the fire was determined to be an electrical failure within the outbuilding. Investigators noted that power was supplied to the 12 by 12 building via an extension cord. Unfortunately, due to the extent of the fire damage, the exact point of failure could not be pinpointed. The fire consumed the outbuilding and a nearby car, while adjacent outbuildings suffered exterior damage.

The estimated total loss from the incident amounts to approximately $25,000. In response to the affected occupant's loss, the Red Cross was contacted to provide assistance.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of having functioning smoke alarms in all types of residences, including tiny homes, main houses, and RVs. Smoke alarms significantly increase survival chances during fires by providing quick notifications, especially given the accelerated burning rate of modern furnishings. Residents can seek assistance with their smoke alarms by contacting the Bend Fire Department at 541-322-6300 or visiting www.bendoregon.gov/smokealarms.

National statistics underscore the urgency of fire safety, indicating that a room with modern furnishings can burn in less than 5 minutes, compared to 20 minutes in the past. The Bend Fire Department encourages proactive measures to mitigate fire risks and ensure the safety of all community members.

OSP Press Release:

Fatal Crash- HWY 97 - Deschutes County
Deschutes County, Ore. 7 June 24- On Friday, June 7, 2024, at 8:24 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Hwy-97, near milepost 158, in Deschutes County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Toyota Tacoma, operated by Robert Patrick Conway (53) of Crescent, drifted off the northbound shoulder or the highway for unknown reasons. The Toyota continued down the shoulder, struck a roadway sign, struck several trees, and rolled onto it's roof.

The operator of the Toyota (Conway) was declared deceased at the scene.

The highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by Deschutes Fire, Sunriver Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, and ODOT.

Hiker falls 40 feet at Benham Falls, rescued from Deschutes River

A Eugene man who fell some 40 feet into the Deschutes River at Benham Falls near Bend Sunday was airlifted after a rescue effort by multiple agencies.

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office said the 61-year-old was hiking along the river when he fell into the water. He was able to reach a log and hang on.

Deschutes County Search and Rescue, Bend Fire and Sunriver water teams responded to help get the man back to land.

An Airlink helicopter transported the man to St. Charles Hospital in Bend.

The man's condition was not immediately released.

 Bend Murder Suspect Brian Wynn Arraigned on Indictment; July 1 Plea Hearing Set

Brian Lee Wynn, 31, of Bend, was arraigned on Monday on charges of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon in connection with the death of David Carroll Hickman, 62, another homeless man. Hickman's body was discovered on June 1 at his campsite behind a gas station on North Highway 97. The Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office determined that Hickman died from multiple injuries, including stab wounds.

Surveillance footage identified Wynn as a person of interest, showing him with Hickman on the night of the killing. Wynn was arrested without incident on June 3 near NE Second Street and Emerson Avenue.

During the arraignment, Circuit Judge Alycia Sykora scheduled a tentative plea hearing for July 1. Wynn remains held without bail, and the investigation is ongoing.

For more details, you can visit KTVZ's full report [here](https://ktvz.com/news/crime-courts/2024/06/10/bend-murder-suspect-brian-wynn-arraigned-on-indictment-july-1-plea-hearing-set.

"Building Brighter Futures: The Inspiring Work of Kids Inspired Non-Profit"

Our History

Our program began in the summer of 2008 when we sent 12 at-risk children to week-long camps. In 2020 camps were not offered due to the pandemic. So we began providing local enrichment activities to children served by our partner agencies.

In 2022 we served 350 kids–306 children with local enrichment activities and 44 with summer camp. Our goal for 2023 is to provide over 400 children with enrichment activities and to send 60 to summer camp.

There are many more kids. There are many more young lives to enrich.  We firmly believe that kids inspired DO succeed. 

Help us make the inspiration possible!

Learn More

Do you have a Local Cause you’d like us to Spotlight? Click the link to submit your information ⬇️

Events Sponsored By Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate

What’s Up Central Oregon

The 14th Annual La Pine Rhubarb Festival promises to be a fun event! This is a community event for all ages. Over 120 vendors and food trucks. Our amazing Vendors will have a variety of items for sale. There will be a variety of food/goodies to tempt any appetite. Plus, a No Host Bar with many adult beverages to choose from. We will have ongoing, fantastic entertainment!

We will once again have a Rhubarb Dessert Contest with awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes! We will have fun activities for the kids too as well as the adults. Please join us for this family event that will be our best Rhubarb Festival yet!

Hello, folk music enthusiasts! We’re ecstatic to unveil the latest lineup additions for the 27th annual Sisters Folk Festival!

With the inclusion of these 14 sensational artists, the roster now boasts an impressive 33 acts set to take the stage(s) in Sisters on September 27 – 29!

From stirring ballads to foot-stomping tunes, this year’s festival promises another unforgettable musical experience featuring diverse talent from all over the world, redefining what we think of as “folk” music. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual listener, there’s something for everyone to discover and enjoy.

Chris Smither • Väsen

Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms Country Band •Las Guaracheras • Carsie Blanton • Viv & Riley •The Pairs • Gabe Lee • Paul Mcdonald • Michaela Anne •Tropa Magica • The Lowest Pair • Beth Wood • Lizzie No

Explore the Full Lineup

Tickets for the full three-day extravaganza are on sale now, so grab yours before they’re gone!

And don’t worry if you can’t commit to the entire weekend just yet — a limited number of single-day tickets will be available starting July 17.

Adult: $225/Ticket
Youth (17 & Under): $85/Ticket

sffpresents.org

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